442. ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
the fame time the other mufcles of this ani- 
mal were fo intirely deprived of feeling, as not 
to be, in any degree, affected by pricking or 
tearing their fibres*. . 
Does not the flower digeftion of the ali- 
ment in time of fleep, proceed, partly, from 
the periftaltic motion of the ftomach and guts 
being then repeated after longer intervals? 
In dogs who have got a large dofe of opium, 
this motion is very much leffened or totally 
fufpended, the food laft received into the fto- 
mach remains there indigefted, the guts are 
more than ufually empty, and the lacteal vef- 
fels invifible?. In fleep, therefore, not only 
the heart, but the ftomach and guts alfo, become 
lefs fenfible of the //mulus afually affecting 
them, and confequently repeat their contra- 
Gions more flowly. 
De Gorter, differing from Boerhaave and o- 
ther authors, thinks, that the pulfe muft be, 
not fuller, but fofter in time of fleep, becaufe 
the circulation of the blood is allowed, then, 
to proceed more flowly than when we are a- 
wake. 
* Effay on the Vital and Involuntary motions, &c. p. 372. 
+ Kapu impet. faciens Hirrpocrat. diftum, N® 434. 
433: 
